Turkish parliament speaker meets Belarusian PM

Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek on Thursday met with Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich at the office of ministers' council in Belarusian capital Minsk as part of his official visit.

Myasnikovich, expressing his pleasure for Cicek's visit to Belarus, said the Turkish parliament speaker's visit had wide media coverage in the country, especially due to the interest to Turkey.

The Belarusian premier mentioned about Turkish investment in the country and said that there had been an increase in the number of the Turkish investors in the last five years and a $37 million investment was recorded in the first nine months of 2013.

Myasnikovich expressed his hopes for continuation of Turkish investments in Belarus.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Cicek, on the other hand, added they would endeavour to sustain talks with Belarus at the inter-parliamentary level as well as inter-governmental level.

Noting Turkey was the first county which recognized Belarus, Cicek said a political determination had been continuing to develop affairs in all domains since then.

More cooperation is needed between the two countries, said the speaker, ending his speech.

The meeting, then, was held closed to press.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek also addressed Turkish citizens living in Belarus at the hotel where he stayed.

Cicek said in his statement that Turkey was a widely-known country thanks to Turkish citizens living abroad and promoting Turkey well.

After the meeting at the hotel, Cicek and his delegation visited the National Library in Belarus and then returned to Turkey.